Child labour is a term that has been loaded with many emotions in the past. In industrialised countries, people have a very gridlocked opinion about this topic. Especially the recent discussions about sweatshops or other industries children work for, have brought up the question, if Western societies can really adopt their concepts on the developing world. As many of the jobs, children work in are in the informal sector, the author chose to put another emphasis on this topic.
This paper will first define the terms “informal economy” and “child labour”. In section 3 the concept of fundamental labour and social standards is introduced and the different organisations dealing with labour standards are presented. Proximately the approaches in child labour abolition are shown and exemplary demonstrated by the relevant conventions of the International Labour Organization. In section 4 a worst case and a best case example in combating child labour are presented.
At a glance
- Grade: 1.3 (1.0 is the best grade)
- Examines Unilever subcontractor farms through Veukatesvarlu’s study
- Examines COMIBOL and CEPROMIN’s work with children in Bolivian mining regions
- Compares four perspectives on intervention against child labour
- 19 sources in the bibliography
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Informal Economy and Child Labour
2.1 Definition: Informal Economy
2.2 Definition: Child Labour
2.3 Relation: Child Labour & Informal Economy
3. Labour and Social Standards
3.1 Definition: Fundamental Labour and Social Standards
3.2 Organisations promoting labour standards
2.2.1 Non-Governmental Initiatives
2.2.2 Governmental Organisations
3.3 Standards concerning Child Labour
3.3.1 Approaches for Intervention
3.3.2 The standards issued by the ILO
3.3.3 The Success of the ILO Standards
4. Initiatives against Child Labour in Practise
4.1 Unilever and the Hybrid Cottonseed Production in India – a Worst Case
4.2 Children in the Mining Regions in Bolivia – a Best Case
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper introduces the relationship between child labour and the informal economy in developing countries. It examines how labour and social standards and governmental and non-governmental initiatives address child labour, using international conventions and two contrasting cases to explore approaches to intervention.
- Definitions of informal economic activity and exploitative child labour
- Connections between child labour and informal work
- Labour standards and the organisations that promote them
- Four perspectives on intervention and ILO conventions
- Cases involving cottonseed production in India and mining regions in Bolivia
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 Relation: Child Labour & Informal Economy
According to Rosalind Boyd, child labour can be divided into four broad types of activities.
Children can be employed in industries. In developing countries children mostly start by the age of four or five. Often they are sold to the owners by their parents and work with little or no pay. Typical industries, children’s work is abused in, are the carpet, the garment and the matchstick industry profiting of the cheap labour. Recent movements in industrial countries against child labour and deriving boycotts caused a hiding and informalisation of the work of these children.
A similar picture arises when examining child work on agricultural farms. While farm work performed by family members is acknowledged, the work of other children has been disapproved by Western societies. Thus the pressure to hide the child workers is high and many of them have been forced to move to urban areas in order to find any kind of new job, that in most cases is even more hazardous.
In urban areas children often work in households or do other domestic labour. They mostly work for the place to stay and their food without getting any remuneration.
Child labour that happens in the informal sector, such as street vendors or prostitution, builds the fourth type of child labour.
Using the definition of the informal economy that has been given earlier in this paper, in addition to the definition given to child labour, one can conclude, that in all four of these types of child labour, informal activities are implied. Additionally it can be stated, that the anti-child labour movements in the Western societies have resulted in an increase of informal child labour in developing countries.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: The author outlines the paper’s interest in child labour, informal work and initiatives in developing countries, and introduces its structure.
Informal Economy and Child Labour: This chapter defines the informal economy and child labour, distinguishes between positive and exploitative work, and discusses their relationship.
Labour and Social Standards: The chapter examines labour standards, governmental and non-governmental initiatives, intervention perspectives and ILO conventions. It also discusses evidence concerning the effectiveness of those conventions.
Initiatives against Child Labour in Practise: Two contrasting cases consider Unilever’s cottonseed supply chain in India and initiatives for children in Bolivian mining regions.
Conclusion: The author brings together the discussion of informal work, standards and initiatives and identifies questions for further examination.
Keywords
child labour, informal economy, developing countries, labour standards, social standards, International Labour Organization, ILO conventions, intervention perspectives, corporate codes of conduct, cottonseed production, India, Bolivia, mining, education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper about?
It introduces child labour in developing countries and its relationship to informal economic activity, labour standards and initiatives intended to address it.
What are the central themes?
The paper covers definitions of child labour and informal work, international standards, approaches to intervention and practical examples from India and Bolivia.
What is the paper’s main objective?
Its aim is to explain the connection between child labour and the informal economy and introduce approaches and initiatives for combating exploitative child labour.
What research method does the author use?
The author draws on published literature, institutional documents and existing studies, combining a conceptual discussion with two illustrative cases.
What does the main discussion cover?
It explains key definitions, compares organisations and perspectives involved in setting labour standards, examines ILO conventions and presents two contrasting cases.
Which keywords characterise the paper?
Key terms include child labour, informal economy, labour standards, ILO conventions, corporate codes of conduct, India and Bolivia.
Which intervention perspectives are discussed?
The paper considers labour market, human capital, social responsibility and child-centred perspectives.
What role do ILO conventions play in the discussion?
The paper uses the Minimum Age Convention No. 138 and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention No. 182 to illustrate international standards and their differing emphases.
Which practical cases does the paper examine?
It examines Unilever’s hybrid cottonseed supply chain in India and work involving COMIBOL and CEPROMIN in Bolivian mining regions.
- Quote paper
- Yasmin Shoaib (Author), 2006, Informal Economy and Child Labour, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/63221
